Guy rod grounding clamp



Nov. 24,1942. D, c, HUBBARD 2,302,863

GUY non enounmue cLAuggs Filed May 24, 1941 ipmactwwfla Patented Nov. 24, 1942 GUY ROD GROUNDIN G CLAMP David C. Hubbard, Centralia, Mo., assignor to A. B. Chance Company, Centralia, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application May 24, 1941, Serial No. 394,990

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to guy rod grounding clamps, and is particularly concerned with an improved guy rod clamping structure adapted to provide a dependable mechanical and electrical pressure contact between a plurality of cables and an anchor rod, where the anchor rod is used as a grounding rod.

The present application is a continuation in part of my prior application, Serial No. 328,841, filed April 10, 1940, for Guy rod grounding clamps, now Patent No. 2,246,407, granted June 17, 1941, and relates particularly to guy rod grounding clamps of the type effecting a ground simultaneously with three cables and one rod.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved guy rod grounding clamp adapted to maintain the substantially cylindrical shape of the guy strand or cable, for the purpose of avoiding the mashing or flattening of the cable, which would otherwise tend to destroy the cable and place unnecessary strain on certain of the parts of the cable.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved clamping device for a guy rod, which, by virtue of its firm gripping action, tends to eliminate the abrasive action which occurs on the guy cable and anchor rod, due to causes such as vibrations and slackness in the uy cable.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved electrical connecting device for guy rods and guy cables which assists the usual guy cable clamps in securing the cable to the anchor rod and provides additional security and strength for the installation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved electrical connecting device for guy rods and cables which is simple in structure, capable of economical manufacture, sturdy, and adapted to be applied with a minimum amount of labor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved electrical connecting devices for guy rods and guy cables which include connecting members adapted to be wedged into engagement with the cable by means of a bolt or other threaded means so as to assure a good electrical connection.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved guy rod grounding clamp for use with an anchor rod of the type adapted to receive three cables, by means of which a tight electrical and mechanical contact is assured with each of these cables.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the single sheet of drawings accompanying the specification:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken on a plane at right angles to the surface of the ground, and parallel to a guy rod, showing a guy rod and guy cable installation which is equipped with the present clamping device;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a guy rod grounding clamp installation constructed according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational View of one of the clamping members;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational View of one of the clamping members.

The present guy rod grounding clamp is particularly adapted to be used on electrical systems employing a grounded neutral conductor that is connected electrically to the various guy wires.

This is done to increase the grounding efliciency, and naturally the insulators in the guy are eliminated. The clamp is adapted to afford a positive contact between the guy wire and the anchor rod, in order to assure a good electrical connection and a better ground for the various guys.

Referring to Fig. 1, ill indicates the terrain in which there is an installation comprising an anchor H and a guy rod I2. The anchor and the lower end of the guy red may be of any of the various types, such as the expanding anchors, cone anchors, dead man anchors, etc... and the lower end of the guy rod may be provided with a point and a head, or may be threaded and provided with a nut.

The guys, consisting of three separate steel cables i 3, M and I5, preferably galvanized, each have their lower ends passed through the eye I6 of the anchor rod l2, and the free end is secured, in each case, above the eye by means of any suitable type of cable clamp IT.

The eye of the guy rod is preferably of the type arranged for three cables, in this embodiment of the invention, and thus it is provided with a yoke 48 having the grooves I9, 29, 2| inside the eye.

The grooves l92l are preferably of substantially circular cross section, and preferably of a radius substantially equal to the radius of the cables which they are intended to receive. Thus the walls of each groove have a substantial flt about the periphery of that portion of the cable which they engage.

The circular grooves l9--2l are curved about a yoke l8, the inner surface 22 of the yoke, as shown in cross section in Fig. 3, being substantially circular so as to provide a curve of increased perimeter about which each of the cables is bent. The gradual curve 22 about the yoke I8 prevents the cable from bending sharply, and tends to prevent flattening of the cable. This gradual curve lessens the difference in strain between the inner strand of the cable and the outer strand, at the point of curvature.

Together, the substantially circular grooves l92l, and the gradual curve 22 of the cable in the eye Iii are adapted to maintain the shape of the cable at the eye in such manner that it has a greater strength, and is adapted to perform its functions for a longer period of time under greater loads than any devices that are otherwise constructed.

The groove 20 for the middle cable is preferably offset vertically in the eye Hi from the grooves l9 and 2| for the purpose of reducing the size of the eye.

The eye It is preferably of sufficient size so as to provide room for a threaded bolt 23, which extends through the eye and through the two clamping members 24 and 25.

"The clamping members 24 and 25 may be identical in shape, but are reversed in position. Each clamping member may be provided with a substantially fiat bearing surface at 25 on its outer face for engaging either the head of the bolt 23, or the nut 21.

A spring lock washer 28 is preferably interposed between the-nut of the bearing surface 25 of the clamping member 25, this spring nut providing a measure of resilient clamping action, and preventing the device from loosening under Vibration.

The clamping members 24, 25, each preferably taper in size from the outer face 29 to the inner face 30. At the lower side of each clamping member, it may be provided with a substantially frusto-conical surface 3|, providing a wedging surface for engaging the lower wall 32 of the eye I6.

The vertical depth of the clamping members, as shown in Fig. 4, is preferably such that they may be received inside the eye l6 when the upper grooves 33, 34, 35 engage the cables I3-l5. These upper grooves 33-35 are not in the same plane, but they are preferably so located as to insure a good mechanical and electrical contact with all three cables.

The grooves are separated by the ridge 36 between grooves 33, 34, and ridge 3! between grooves 34, 35. All three grooves are preferably inclined from the outside to the inside, in

- a direction which extends toward the axis of the bolt 23. Thus the upper curved surfaces of taper from the outside toward the inside of the clamping member.

The groove 34 is formed in an upwardly extending portion 38 of the clamping member, the extension being located between the grooves 33 and 35. The shape of the groove 34 is substantially circular in cross section, corresponding substantially to the shape of the cable which it is to engage.

The grooves 33 and 35 are also preferably substantially circular in cross section at their lowermost portions indicated at 39 and 40 on the inner face. The body extension 38 between the grooves 33 and 35 has its sides only slightly curved at 4| and 42 so that a wedging action takes place between the wall portions 4! and 4?. and the two outer cables.

In addition to being tilted downward toward the axis of the bolt at the inner face, each clamping member may have its grooves longitudinally curved to correspond substantially to the curvature of the cable which it engages, as shown in Fig. 3. Each clamping member is provided with an axially extending bore 43 for receiving the screw bolt 23, and the clamping members have a limited amount of pivotal movement on the bolt 23.

The operation of the clamping members is as follows: The guy rod is first installed with its anchor and cables and clamps, and strain is applied to the cables and rod so that the cables assume the final position which they will have in the installation. The clamping members are placed in the eye 16, and the bolt 23 is passed through them and secured by means of the spring washer and nut 21. As the bolt 23 is tightened by means of its nut 21, the clamping members pivot slightly in the eye l6, and the frusto-conical surfaces 3| slide on the wall 32 until the clamping member engages both of the lateral cables l3 and I5 with substantially equal pressure. A continued application of force to tighten the bolt causes the clamping members to wedge into the eye I6, and to have a Wedging engagement with the cables.

The side grooves 33 and 35 in the clamping member are so shaped and located that they do not come into final position clamping the two side cables [3 and i5 until the groove 34 has a tight clamping engagement with the center cable l4.

The sliding action which takes place between the tapered surfaces of the clamping members and the rod, and between the tapered surfaces of the clamping members and the cables is sufficient to effect a cleaning of these surfaces to produce a good electrical contact.

One of the most important features of the invention lies in the wedging action between the cable, eye, the clamps and the clamping members which assures a tight electrical and mechanical contact.

The grounding clamp provides further assurance against loose guys, as it assists the cable clamps IT. The tight electrical and mechanical contact which is provided by the grounding clamp is independent of the strain or lack. of strain in the guy wire. A good ground is assured through the guy rod and anchor under all conditions.

It should also be noted that when a cable is bent about the yoke of the eye of a guy rod of the type described, and secured by a cable clamp. there is some tendency for the cable to bulge slightly from the horseshoe groove at the bottom of the yoke due to the stiffness of the cable and its resistance to making a bend of the necessary small size. This bulge of the cable away from the yoke in the eye is reduced by the clamping members which bring the cable up into engagement with the yoke.

The resilient action of the bulge of the cable in the eye tends to cause tight resilient contact between the cable and the clamping member, and tends to equalize the pressure between the clamping member and all three cables.

In some embodiments of the invention, the "cross section of the yoke l8, at the center groove 26, may be made of a different curvature with a slightly larger radius than the radius of the yoke at the base of the grooves l9 and 2!. This will leave a clearance between the bend in the cable and the yoke at the center groove, which may be taken-up by engagement of the clamping member with the center cable, before it simultaneously comes into tight engagement with the side cables.

I Because of the firm gripping action between the grounding clamp cable and the guy rod, vibration no longer produces an abrasive action between the guy cable and the anchor rod and the galvanized coverings of the guy strand and the guy rod are protected against abrasion at their points of mutual contact. The lock washer on the bolt of the grounding clamp provides a measure of resilient clamping action between the clamping members and the cable, and, prevents the nut from loosening due to vibration.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an electrical connector for guy rods and cables, the combination of a guy rod having an eye with cable means located in said eye and a bolt passing through said guy rod, said bolt havin a pair of clamping members arranged on said bolt on opposite sides of said guy rod and said clamping members having wedging surfaces adapted to engage said cable means, and threaded means on said bolt whereby the clamping means may be drawn into wedging engagement with said cable, said guy rod having grooves for receiving three cables and said clamping members being provided with laterally curved grooves located to engage the surfaces of said cables when they are disposed in the grooves of said guy rod.

2. In a clamp for guy rods and cables, the combination of a guy rod having an eye formed with a plurality of grooves for receiving guy cables, a pair of clamping members arranged on opposite sides of the eye, and a bolt passing through a through bore in each clamping member, and threaded means on said bolt for forcing said clamping members into engagement with the cables in said grooves, said cables being arranged at difierent distances from said bolt.

3. In a clamp for guy rods and cables, the combination of a guy rod having an eye formed with a plurality of grooves for receiving guy cables, a pair of clamping members arranged on opposite sides of the eye, and a bolt passing through a through bore in each clamping member, and threaded means on said bolt for forcing said clamping members into engagement with the cables in said grooves, said cables being arranged at diiierent distances from said bolt, said clamping members being each provided with a wedging surface on the side opposite from the cables for engaging the wall of the eye in the guy rod.

4. In a clamp for guy rods and cables, the combination of a guy rod having an eye formed with a plurality of grooves for receiving guy cables, a pair of clam-ping members arranged on opposite sides of the eye, and a bolt passing through a through bore in each clamping member, and threaded means on said bolt for forcing said clamping members into engagement with the cables in said grooves, said cables being arranged at dififerent distances from said bolt, said clamping members having their grooves provided with a substantially circular cross section for engaging the inside of the cables.

5. In a clamp for guy rods and cables, the combination of a guy rod having an eye formed with a plurality of grooves for receiving guy cables, a pair of clamping members arranged on opposite sides of the eye, and a bolt passing through a through bore in each clamping member, and threaded means on said bolt for forcing said clamping members into engagement with the cables in said grooves, said cables being arranged at different distances from said bolt, said clamping members having their grooves provided with a substantially circularcross section for engaging the inside of the cables, said grooves being tilted toward the bolt at the inner face of each clamping member, whereby the grooves provide a wedging surface for engaging the cable.

6. In a clamp for guy rods and cables, the combination of a guy rod having an eye formed with a plurality of grooves for receiving guy cables, a pair of clamping members arranged on opposite sides of the eye, and a bolt passing through a through bore in each. clamping member, and threaded means on said bolt for forcing said clamping members into engagement with the cables in said grooves, said cable-s being arranged at different distances from said bolt, said clamping members having their grooves provided with a substantially circular cross section for engagin the inside of the cables, said grooves being tilted toward the bolt at the inner face of each clamping member, whereby the grooves provide a wedging surface for engaging the cable, and said grooves being curved longitudinally to correspond substantially to the curvature of the cables which they engage in the eye.

7. In a guy rod clamp assembly, the combinations of a guy rod having an eye provided with grooves for receiving three cables, said grooves being circular in cross section, and said eye having a yoke supporting said grooves, the yoke having a circular cross section to provide the cables with an easy bend, a pair of clamping members, one arranged on each side of said eye, each member having a through here, and a bolt passing through said clamping members, threaded means on said bolt for drawing said clamping members together, each clamping member being formed with engaging surfaces located to engage one of said cables.

8. In a guy rod clamp assembly, the combination of a guy rod having an eye provided with grooves for receiving three cables, said grooves being circular in cross section, and said eye hav ing a yoke supporting said grooves, the yoke having a circular cross section to provide the cables with an easy bend, a pair of clamping members, one arranged on each side of said eye, each member having a through bore, and a bolt passing through said clamping members, threaded means on said bolt for drawing said clamping members together, each clamping member being I formed with engaging surfaces located to engage one of said cables, said cable engaging surfaces being substantially circular in cross section.

9. In a guy rod clamp assembly, the combination of a guy rod having an eye provided with grooves for receiving three cables, said grooves being circular in cross section, and said eye having a yoke supporting said grooves, the yoke having a circular cross section to provide the cables with an easy bend, a pair of clamping members,

one arranged on each side of said eye, each member having a through bore, and a bolt passing through said clamping members, threaded means on said bolt for drawing said clamping members together, each clamping member being formed with engaging surfaces located to engage one of said cables, said clamping members being provided with a tapered formation from the outside to the inside, whereby they may be wedged into the eye, into tight engagement with the cables and rod.

10. In a guy rod clamp assembly, the combination of a guy rod having an eye provided with grooves for receiving three cables, said grooves i being circular in cross section, and said ey having a yoke supporting said grooves, the yoke having a circular cross section to provide the cables with an easy bend, a pair of clamping'members,

one arranged on each side of said eye, each member having a through bore, and a, bolt passing through said clamping members, threaded means on said bolt for drawing said clamping members together, each clamping member being formed with engaging surfaces located to engage one of said cables, said eye having the yoke portions engaging said cables of different shape, whereby there is a different resilient clearance between each cable and the yoke inside the eye, to be taken-up by the clamping members to assure tight contact with each cable.

11.111 a guy rod grounding clamp 21, metal member having an axially extending aperture for receiving a securing bolt, said metal member being formed on one side with a frusto conical surface and being formed on the opposite side with a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves, the general contour of said member being that it is tapered toward one end both at the frusto conical surface and the grooves whereby it is adapted to engage the eye of a guy rod and a cable in the eye With a Wedging contact.

DAVID C. HUBBARD. 

